How To Choose a Bed Bug Dog Inspection Company In NYC

The New York City area has more than 20 bed bug dog inspection companies and thousands of licensed pest control professionals.  The industry secret is they are not all of equal quality, and not all are well trained in managing bed bugs. As the NYC bed bug problem continues to grow, so does the number of companies performing bed bug dog inspections and remediation. Like companies, not all dogs and handlers are created equal.

There are a few notable groups that give certifications to bed bug dog inspection companies in NYC and across the country.  The following organizations are recognized by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA):

•  Integrated Bed Bug Management Association (IBBMA)
•  National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association (NESDCA)
• World Detector Dog Organization (WDDO)

At a bare minimum, if you're in the New York City area, you should limit your choices to a bed bug dog inspection company that is certified by one of these organizations. This would mean that the handler and the dog have passed a regulatory exam that meets the standards of the NPMA.

The next thing you should look for is independence.  I started the Bed Bug Inspectors in 2009 and was the first independent bed bugs dog inspection company in NYC.  The vision was to be able to give our clients an unbiased, no-conflict of interest opinion on their problem.  There are a lot of great companies out there that have dogs and offer pest control services but like any industry there are quite a few companies with a bad reputation.  Choose a bed bugs dog detection company that is independent this way you remove the conflict of interest.

One last thing to keep in mind, when choosing a bed bug dog inspection company in NYC, is professionalism.  Again, as the bed bugs market has grown, the gold rush has started and all sorts of people have flooded in. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do they have a professional website?  
• Do they answer the phone when you call?
• Are they readily available or do you need to wait 1-3 days?

As with any great service company you have to feel comfortable with who you are using.

About The Author

Jeremy Ecker has worked in the pest control industry for the past 17 years. The last 8 years was spent as a Vice President of one of the most well respected regional Pest Control Companies in New York. He is part of a NESDCA Certified Dog Team